Consumer Reports wants Tesla to turn off part of its Autopilot technology

The influential consumer review magazine said the recent fatal crash that occurred while the Autopilot feature was engaged on a Tesla Model S should give pause to the "company's aggressive roll-out of self-driving technology."

The report released Thursday said the aggressive marketing associated with the implementation of the technology, which it said needed more testing, had created an unsafe environment.

"Consumer Reports experts believe that these two messages — your vehicle can drive itself, but you may need to take over the controls at a moment's notice — create potential for driver confusion," the report said.

"It also increases the possibility that drivers using Autopilot may not be engaged enough to react quickly to emergency situations. Many automakers are introducing this type of semi-autonomous technology into their vehicles at a rapid pace, but Tesla has been uniquely aggressive in its deployment. It is the only manufacturer that allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel for significant periods of time, and the fatal crash has brought the potential risks into sharp relief."

The report said the Autopilot technology, which allows the car to adjust speeds, change lanes, and do some steering itself while on the highway, was allowing drivers to take their attention away from the road, and it went on to say the technology had not been tested for all possible safety deficiencies before being implemented.

"Consumer Reports has owned three Teslas (2013 Model S 85, 2014 Model S P85D, and 2016 Model X 90D) and we've seen first-hand how such beta software is transmitted wirelessly into the cars," the report said.

"When software in a desktop computer or handheld electronic device is labeled as 'beta' — it typically means that functionality is not fully developed and is still being fine-tuned."

The group had four recommendations for Tesla at this juncture regarding its Autopilot feature:

Disable auto-steer until it has a system that requires drivers to have their hands on the wheel.

Stop calling the system "Autopilot."

Educate drivers on when and when not to use the system.

"Test all safety-critical systems fully before public deployment; no more beta releases," the report said.

Laura MacCleery, the vice president of Consumer Reports' consumer policy and mobility division, said Tesla should disable the function until those moves were made.

"In the long run, advanced active safety technologies in vehicles could make our roads safer," she said in the report.

"But today, we're deeply concerned that consumers are being sold a pile of promises about unproven technology. 'Autopilot' can't actually drive the car, yet it allows consumers to have their hands off the steering wheel for minutes at a time. Tesla should disable automatic steering in its cars until it updates the program to verify that the driver's hands are on the wheel."

In a response to Consumer Reports, Tesla said it was developing the technology but felt comfortable with its processes.

UPDATE:

When reached for comment, a Tesla spokesman had this statement:

"Tesla is constantly introducing enhancements, proven over millions of miles of internal testing, to ensure that drivers supported by Autopilot remain safer than those operating without assistance. We will continue to develop, validate, and release those enhancements as the technology grows. While we appreciate well-meaning advice from any individual or group, we make our decisions on the basis of real-world data, not speculation by media."

Additionally, the Tesla spokesperson defended the naming of Autopilot in the statement:

"Tesla Autopilot functions like the systems that airplane pilots use when conditions are clear. The driver is still responsible for, and ultimately in control of, the car. This is enforced with onboard monitoring and alerts. To further ensure drivers remain aware of what the car does and does not see, Tesla Autopilot also provides intuitive access to the information the car is using to inform its actions."